When to arrive

Arriving in Leeds in good time is important to help you have a good welcome experience and make a successful start at the University of Leeds.

 

Taught students arriving in Spring or Summer

If you’re a new taught student joining us in Leeds in spring or summer, contact the team responsible for your programme to find out recommended arrival dates.

• Students attending Leeds International Summer School (LISS) – email summer@leeds.ac.uk

• Students on an English language / pre-sessional course – email langc@leeds.ac.uk

Taught students arriving to start in Autumn

If you’re a new taught student joining us in Leeds in the autumn, plan to get your visa in time to arrive between Wednesday 11 September and Wednesday 18 September 2024. Check also the information below about your visa and accommodation start date.

Arriving within the recommended arrival dates will ensure you’re in Leeds in time to attend International Orientation. This programme of in-person sessions, online webinars and exciting social activities will help you get all the necessary information for a successful start in Leeds and start making connections with other University of Leeds students. 

It’ll also ensure you’re in Leeds in time to attend your school induction, which you must attend.

Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) arrivals

If you are a new postgraduate researcher, you should arrive in Leeds before the start of your programme. You will be able to arrive up to a month before the start date of your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), depending on the length of your research programme and when you have obtained your student visa.

You should have received pre-arrival information from your Graduate School, with information about preparing for your arrival in Leeds and your induction. You can find information such as the PGR Induction Checklist and the Doctoral College Induction Programme in our starting your research webpages,

Find out about PGR International Orientation, explore the resources and check out what’s happening on campus.

If you are not able to arrive in Leeds before the start of your programme, you must contact your Graduate School to discuss your options.

If you are on a distance learning, split site or dual award programme, you might not need to be in Leeds for the start of your programme. You should check with your Graduate School.

If you need a visa to study in the UK, you will need to do a right to study check each time you arrive in Leeds. 

Important advice before you arrange transport to Leeds

Your visa

Don’t book your flight until you’ve received your visa. You can only travel to the UK after the date shown on your visa vignette or within the validity period of your eVisa. If you travel to the UK before the start date of your Student visa, your visa will not be activated and you may be required to leave and re-enter the UK in order to have the correct immigration status. If the ‘valid to’ date on your visa vignette has expired because you have delayed travel to the UK, you’ll need to apply for a replacement vignette before you can travel. 

Your accommodation start date

Check when you can move into your accommodation and don’t plan to arrive before the start of your accommodation contract.

If you arrive in spring or summer before the start of your accommodation contract, you’ll be responsible for finding somewhere to live until you can move into your accommodation, and cover any additional costs associated with this.

If you’re starting your programme in the autumn and need to arrive early to attend International Orientation or your School induction activity, read our information about what to do if you need to arrive before the start of your contract.   

School/Research induction sessions 

In addition to attending International Orientation, you must arrive in Leeds in time to attend the induction sessions planned by your School. Your School will contact you directly with more information on this, so don’t forget to check your email regularly. 

If you want to find out more about your School induction, please contact your School directly.

If you’re a postgraduate researcher, check the start your research pages for useful induction resources. 

If your arrival is delayed 

If your journey is delayed, find out who to contact to get help and make sure you know who to notify about your delayed arrival so you can be supported.    

Frequently asked questions